SOCCER SHORTS

Agencies

GOLF

Striker saved my life: ’keeper

Rochdale goalkeeper David Lucas, who was knocked unconscious in an English third division match against Sheffield United, credited quick-thinking opponent Richard Creswell for saving his life on Sunday. The goalkeeper collided with United defender Neill Collins just before halftime of Saturday’s match and collapsed to the ground, before striker Cresswell, Lucas’ former Preston North End teammate, put the 34-year-old into the recovery position to stop him swallowing his tongue. “As dramatic as it sounds to say he saved my life, maybe he did,” Lucas told the BBC. “It was lucky on my part that someone as sensible and quick-thinking like ‘Cressy’ reacted as quickly as he did.” The goalkeeper received medical treatment in his own penalty area as play was stopped for 10 minutes. “I’ve been told Cressy put me in the recovery position and stopped me swallowing my tongue,” Lucas said. “I only remember a free-kick outside of the box which came into the area and started curling away from me. I thought: ‘I’ve got to steady myself here and go in for the ball’. Then I knew I was down and the next thing I remember was the emergency staff putting a neck brace on me. So obviously I was knocked out for a few minutes.”

CHINA

Anelka to join Shanghai

Chelsea star Nicolas Anelka is to join Shanghai Shenhua on a two-year contract, the club said yesterday, in a huge boost for China’s scandal-hit Super League. The 32-year-old French striker will join the club next month, Shenhua said in a brief statement, which did not mention the value of the deal. “Shanghai Shenhua and Chelsea have reached [a] consensus that French striker Nicolas Anelka will officially join Shanghai Shenhua in January 2012 after the winter transfer window opens,” the statement on the club’s Web site said. Anelka will be the first former English Premier League player to appear in China’s Super League and by far its biggest star. There have been media reports Anelka would more than double his weekly salary to ￡200,000 (US$313,000), but Ma Yue, spokesman for Shanghai Shenhua, appeared to pour cold water on those reports. “I cannot confirm his salary at the moment. I can just say the final amount could be different from ￡200,000,” Ma said, refusing to give further details.

NETHERLANDS

Ajax move back into fourth

Ajax needed an own-goal by Guy Ramos to beat RKC Waalwijk 1-0 on Sunday and move back into fourth place in the Dutch league. Elsewhere, Utrecht drew 2-2 at home to Feyenoord, with Jerson Cabral scoring the equalizer for the visitors after an early strike by teammate John Guidetti had been canceled out by goals from Daan Bovenberg and Edouard Duplan. VVV Venlo moved off the bottom of the table after their second victory of the season, a 2-0 win over Roda JC. At the top, AZ Alkmaar, PSV Eindhoven and Twente all won on Saturday. Alkmaar lead the standings with 38 points, four more than PSV. Twente have 33 points and Ajax have 30.

MEXICO

Tigres win third league title

Tigres UANL came from a goal down to beat Santos Laguna 3-1 on Sunday and lift the Mexican league title for the first time in 29 years. The side from the northern city of Monterrey won the final 4-1 on aggregate following their 1-0 first-leg victory at Santos on Thursday. Second-half goals from Hector Mancilla, Danilinho and substitute Alan Pulido won it for Tigres, who won their two previous titles in 1978 and 1982.